European authorities are maintaining advice to avoid Crimean airspace, after failing to be convinced by a Ukrainian safety case intended to make additional routes available to carriers.
Ukraine’s state aviation administration issued a circular in late August declaring four routes within the Simferopol flight information region were “available” for civil aircraft operations.
But the European Aviation Safety Agency says it has reviewed the safety case provided by Ukraine, on which this declaration has been based, and discovered “conflicting” information.
It points out that an aeronautical circular published by the Russian federal air transport authority claims that the four routes are under control of the Simferopol air traffic centre.
Although Ukraine is the only internationally-recognised provider of air navigation services in the Simferopol FIR, the annexation of Crimea by Russia – and its assumption of air traffic control operations – has resulted in strong concerns over air safety in the region.
EASA has concluded that “there is not yet enough evidence” that all risks to safety have been “adequately mitigated”, despite the Ukrainian circular.
It notes that there is an absence of co-ordination mechanisms between Ukraine and Russia for provision of air traffic services in the region.
EASA is recommending that carriers “continue avoiding” the airspace and circumnavigate the Simferopol FIR until further notice.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
